Laura E. Taylor

Laura E. Taylor is going to be a star. Over the years I've worked with a number of people who've gone on to very big careers and they've all had a couple of traits in common. First and foremost, they demonstrate a self awareness that many other performers do not. They take stock of their assets as a performer and leverage their unique characteristics to set themselves apart from the rest.

And in the world of entertainment, Laura is in the most competitive segment. She's a New York chorus girl and on the verge of her big break. Currently performing in The Producers at Marriott Lincolnshire, Laura has spent the last four years on the road, performing in such productions as The Kennedy Center's revival of Mame starring Christine Baransky and playing Millie Dillmount in the Sierra Repertory Theatre's production of Thoroughly Modern Millie. She's at the point in her career that when she hears a director is doing a show somewhere in the country she can pick up the phone and ask for an audition, if not a job.

Laura came to me with a very specific goal. After being on the road for four and a half years, and being considered to step into some pretty impressive roles currently running on Broadway, she's decided that the time has come to go home and prepare for the upcoming Broadway audition season. Her next goal is a Broadway credit. She showed me her current headshot taken in Los Angeles and it's stunning. So is Laura. The problem, Laura felt, was that the current headshot didn't really capture her energy. She's a very strong dancer, and she's very bubbly, and she wanted all of that conveyed in the picture.

We talked about her dream roles and what reviewers have said about her. As Millie, one reviewer said that she was a "pretty Carol Burnett." That's where I started. More than one Broadway leading lady got her break because she evoked the image of a predecessor. Once you've met Laura, there is no way you're going to forget that smile. Even as a dancer, that's the thing that sets her apart from all the rest. I focused on the smile. The second aspect was the use of color. In Los Angeles and New York, vibrant color is used sparingly, but I wanted to put Laura against a rich background so that in a stack of resumes, that color would stand out from the standard white or brick backgrounds. The shoot flowed perfectly, and it didn't hurt that Laura is a dream to work with. It's clear to see that everyone who works with Laura, loves to work with Laura.

Take a look at the other shots of Laura on ArchetypeImages.com, and be sure to watch the cast lists for all of the shows opening on Broadway next fall. Laura is sure to heading up one of them.